Diagnose Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or let me say, the butterfly face, is a serious disease in which the immune system perceives the body’s own cells as foreign and begins to fight against them. Thereby this disease is considered as an autoimmune disease. In Lupus, the substance produced by the body, damages many organs and tissues such as blood vessels, skin, joints and internal organs (kidney, lungs, heart, liver, brain, etc.).

Among patients with SLE nine out of ten are women, and half of them have their first symptoms appearance in the age between 15 and 25 years. Cause of the disease is still unknown. However, scientists believe that a viral infection with the background of a genetic defect may play a role. Very often the disease develops after excessive sun exposure, child birth, abortion and severe emotional distress. Many people with systemic lupus erythematosus have a history of food or medicine allergy in the past. Also, the possibility of getting SLE increases if the person has relatives who suffer from it. Most often, the disease begins gradually. Patients are concerned about weakness, weight loss, fever with no apparent cause and also the pain in the joints. Less often there is an acute onset of the disease (fever, acute inflammation o